Video media persuasion

            The classic saying, “a picture says a thousand words” explains why video media is typically more persuasive than written news stories. Most people accept a picture as true since they can see the event with their eyes instead of reading an article and picturing the event in their head. For example, the pictures James Nachtwey displayed in his Ted Talks showed horrific events around the world many didn’t know existed. Pictures arouse more emotion and leave little room for questioning. What many people forget or don’t realize is the possibility of staging, alterations in light, and different angles of the picture. Such minor things can radically change the message of a picture. Darker lighting can make a picture more somber while a bright gleaming sun has a more joyful tone. The angle can show a different side of the story as well. When the statue of Suddam Hussein fell, one angle showed the ecstasy of those pulling the statue down hiding the protestors who did not support the end of his regime. Pictures can also be staged to portray a stronger message; therefore, what many accept as true, may not actually be so simple. These pictures still have a more profound effect on feelings, memories, and persuasion though.